Leon Modeste donates Urban League's materials to county library

Leon Modeste, who headed the Urban League of Onondaga County for 15 years, is coming to Syracuse Friday to donate pictures, papers and other documents pertaining to the defunct civil rights group to the Onondaga County Public Library.

Modeste, who headed the league from 1979 to 1994, will be accompanied by Andrew Willis, the league's third executive director.

Willis headed the league from 1973 to 1979, said Ossie Edwards, librarian at the Beauchamp Branch Library.

"A lot of history is lost here, and we want to collect more of the African American History in Syracuse,'' she said.

The dedication ceremony is planned for 11:30 a.m. at Beauchamp Branch, 2111 S. Salina St.